We’ve been working for a while on this new wifi shield for Arduino
that is quite different from what you can find already on the market.

Instead of just getting the usual pre-made module we decided to build
a product that would encourage hacking and modifications so we decided
to use an AVR32 processor running an open source version of TCP/IP and
the WIFI software stack. The Arduino communicates over SPI with the
AVR32 and this in turn controls the WIFI module, an HDG104 from H&D
Wireless. Following the Arduino tradition the full software stack
running on the AVR32 is released as open source as well as the Arduino
library that controls the shield.

Having the full source for the software stack allows adding more
complex protocols directly on the AVR32 without using the limited code
space of the atmega328 on the Arduino. On top of this, skilled C
developers can re-program the shield to operate as a standalone device
without the need of an Arduino connected to it. Since we expect that
there will be amazing new features created by the community we made
updating its firmware very easy, just connect a usb cable to the shield.
We believe this opens up to a lot of hacking potential.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Detectors in science

In order to study anything in science, you must first be able to detect it. The most interesting things, of course, are
those that we can detect with our own senses. We then use devices to amplify what we can sense, in order to study those energy
forms more thoroughly.
We also use detectors to study energy forms that we are not able to sense, such as magnetic fields. Detectors and sensors
make up the starting point for most scientific studies.

Man-made detectors

Scientists have invented various types of sensors to detect energy forms. For example, a smoke detector in you home will
set off an alarm when the energy from smoke or heat reaches its detection device. The microphone on you tape recorder detects
the energy from sound waves and creates an electric signal that records the sound.

Solar cells and photographic film detect light.

Microphones detect sound.

Thermometers sense the change in heat or temperature.

Pressure gauges detect touch.

Scales detect and measure the effect of gravity.

There are many devices that detect various chemicals and even odors.

A magnetometer detects magnetic fields.

An electric meter detects electricity.

A Geiger counter detects atomic radiation.

Changing signals

The signals received by a detector may often be manipulated to gather desired information. Often the signal received is
weak, so it must be amplified. Sometimes the signal is too strong, so it must be filtered. Extraneous signals and noise also
must sometimes be filtered out, so that only the desired signal comes through.

Amplifiers

Besides detecting energy forms, many devices amplify or enlarge the signal. Some are mechanical, but most amplifiers are
now electronic. Examples of amplifiers include:

A telescope makes distant objects appear closer.

Electronic amplifiers can increase the level of sound

Very faint chemical signals (odors or tastes) can be amplified electronically to give their details.

Filtering

If you would try to study the Sun, the light would be too bright to view or photograph. A filter could be used to lower
the light level. It could also filter out all colors except those that you want to measure.
Sometimes electrical signals on the radio or television include static and other forms of noise. Electronic filters eliminate
the noise and allow you to get a good, clear signal.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

We set out to build a little brother to the wonderful Arduino line of
development boards - we were tired of leaving our valuable Arduino's
behind in projects, or worse, ripping apart old projects to build new
ones! We also felt the Arduino was too big and powerful for many
projects where we only needed a few pins, or an SPI or I2C bus. And so
the Digispark was born! To us, the best things about the Arduino is the
community, the easy of use, and the IDE - by making the Digispark an
Arduino compatible development board all of those remain common. Plug it
in, power your project with USB or external sources, program it with
the Arduino IDE, and easily use existing Arduino code! But with its
small size and low cost you can feel free to leave it in your project,
give one to a friend, and use them everywhere!

IC Station

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